Gymnastic apparatus



Sept. 11, 1934. H. e. STEEN 1,973,448

GYMNAST I C APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1934 l atented Sept. 11, 1934GYMNASTIC APPARATUS Harry G. Steen,

Philadelphia, Pa.

Application January 26, 1934, Serial No. 708,357

2 Claims.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gymnasticapparatus, and it relates more particularly to gymnastic apparatus of asimplified form and construction which will render it readily portableand easily mounted in position for use, and which will be secure anddependable while in use.

The object of my invention is to provide gymnastic apparatus which maybe collapsed when 0 not in use, and which will occupy relatively littlespace and be of little weight, and which may be readily mounted on theupper horizontal ledge of a door frame without any permanent attachment,such as screws, nails, bolts, or the like. With the above and otherobjects in view which will appear more fully from the following detaileddescription, my invention consists of certain novel features ofconstruction which will appear more fully hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawing, one form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

Referring to the drawing in which like reference characters indicatelike parts:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of gymnastic apparatus of myinvention, shown in use.

Figure 2 represents a similar perspective view of the same on a somewhatenlarged scale, shown in the collapsed and inoperative condition.

Figure 3 represents a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 represents a section on line 44 of Figure 1.

The gymnastic apparatus of my present invention includes a bar 5,adapted to be disposed horizontally when in use, and having a bar ofopposite and similar shallow annular grooves 6 at its opposite ends,which are adapted to receive the strap members 7 preferably formed of ametallic band, having a pair of opposite terminal tabs 8 and 9 extendingupwardly and in spaced relation to each other, between which the lowerend of one of the supporting members 10 is adapted to be pivotallysecured by means of a pivot screw or rivet 11. Thus, the pivot screw orrivet 11 extends through suitable apertures in the tabs or lugs 8 and 9,and through the lower end of the hook member 10, which is likewiseformed of a fiat band of metal of suitable thickness to give the desiredrigidity to the upper generally horizontal portions 12 thereof. Theupper horizontal portions 12 terminate in downwardly bent claw-likemembers or teeth 13, which are adapted firmly to engage the upperhorizontal wooden portion 14 of the door frame 15. When it is desired touse the gymnastic apparatus, the two hook members 10 are foldedoutwardly into the position shown in solid lines in Figure 3, and alsoas shown in Figure 1, and the device is then simply hooked over theupper horizontal portion of the door frame and is then ready for use ina manner indicated schematically in Figure 1. When the device is nolonger in use, it is simply lifted from the door frame and the members10 folded inwardly so as to produce a simple and compact unit which mayreadily be portable, and which may be stored in any suit-case,brief-case, or the like, so that it may be carried along, particularlyin travelling. Thus the gymnastic apparatus of my present invention isintended, among other things, to enable travelling men to carry withthem an exercising apparatus which will be of little weight, which willbe simple of application, and dependable in use, and which may bequickly demounted, and whichwill occupy very little space in asuit-case, trunk or the like.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative 9 and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I hereby claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letter Patent, is:

1. A horizontal bar exercising device comprising a generally elongatedbar, a pair of rigid hook members pivotally secured thereto and adaptedto be positioned generally at a right angle thereto when in use, andadapted to be folded inwardly about their respective pivots andgenerally into a position more or less parallel to the bar when not inuse.

2. A horizontal bar exercising device comprising a generally elongatedbar, metallic strips surrounding the opposite terminal zones of saidbar, each of said strips terminating in pairs of generally parallelspaced hinge plates, hook members having their respective lower terminalportions disposed between the corresponding pairs of hinge plates, andbeing pivotally secured thereto, said hook members having generallylaterally projecting portions terminating in anchorage projections forfirmly engaging with the upper horizontal ledge of a door frame.

HARRY G. STEEN.

